I borrowed the family history from a 96-year-old friend. She recorded the stories of her husband and his sisters, in 1996, before they passed away. The story started with a wedding in 1909 and chronicled life growing up on a Maryland farm outside of DC.

The first description to capture my imagination was from a rare trip to West Virginia to visit family. "There were no surfaced roads in the mountains, just wagon trails. The kids would get out of the car, and stand on the running boards, on the upper side of the car to keep it from...

The universe is unfair. The most basic electronic gizmo is packaged with at least a couple of pages of instructions. And yet, your precious baby comes out of the wrapper without a hint of operating instructions.

I was thrilled when my kids began to understand language. The ability to communicate took our relationship to a new level. I didn't like playing a game of 20 questions before I realized what toy she wanted.

I carpooled with three other guys that had a bit grayer hair than I, and they were each negotiating the treacherous terrain of caring for elderly parents. Broken bones, cancer, elder care, Alzheimer's, downsizing to a retirement community, and estate planning were common topics during the drive. The discussions about parents moving into assisted living were brutal for everyone involved.

These discussions prompted me to consider the choices I will force on my kids when the time comes. Arguably, some would say I have already abandoned my mental capacity.

Hearing a song from our teenage years lights up our brain like a Fourth of July fireworks show. The perfect storm of raging hormones, significant neurological development, and strong emotions, tie memories and songs together.

As life progresses, there is not the same dynamic happening in our bodies and the ties are not as strong. Doctor's us music to bring back memories of youth to Alzheimer's patients by playing songs from the Top 100 charts of their youth. The area of the brain that stores these memories is some of the last to be affected by the disease. The patients can regain some awareness and enjoy walking down memory lane.

I really wanted a dog. My dad said I needed to prove I was responsible before we invested in a dog. We visited the pet store and settled on a rat as my first pet. Squeaker was all black except for a white necktie on his chest.

I poured a lot of love into this rodent. I ensured the dribbles of batter on the griddle each Saturday morning would guarantee a pancake breakfast for my companion. I tucked my t-shirt into my pants and rode my bike around the neighborhood with him riding on my shoulder or running around my waistline in my shirt.

Troy had curly black hair, was a couple of years older, towered at least two feet over me, and muscles that would have caused the Terminator to think twice.

Well, maybe he was only a few inches taller and had the average 8th grade build. Perhaps, time has calibrated my memory. Troy terrorized my early days of Middle School through daily intimidation. I was not beaten up, but his presence caused me to change direction or backtrack for avoiding a confrontation.

Everything changed in a moment, with a flash of courage. I was wearing a stylish black fake motorcycle jacket with silver zippers on the chest. The kind of cool jacket that only the early 80's could produce. The day of reckoning occurred one afternoon outside the gym. Troy ran up to me and said he could spit in one of my open zipper pockets. With knees trembling, I stood my ground, replied "yes you could" and pushed my way past him.

I don't remember much of what I learned in school over those years, but I do know that Troy was never a problem again. This display of courage may have been one of my greatest lessons I remember; thanks, Troy.

In The Gifts Of Imperfection, writer and research professor, Brene Brown references an earlier version that is closer to the Latin root; "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." This definition supports the courage you and I can exhibit each day as challenges come our way. Most are not running from lions for survival or running into burning buildings to save lives.

Our courage challenge is to remain faithful to who we are as individuals. To stand up for who we are, the causes we believe, speaking for the voiceless and changing at least our corner of the world becomes our mission. Pushing back on the internal resistance that demands cowering to fears and temptations, is when courage is on full display.

Youthful moments of courage can prove to be defining moments and the seeds for today's courage. The courage of vulnerable living, creating your art and shipping it to the world, and choosing gratitude in the face of a trial are a few of the daily demonstrations. The world is awaiting your courage and will be less without it.

Going Further: What is your story of youthful courage? Did your circumstances dictate a consistent type of courage? How did this early exposure to courage influence your life today?

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